SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS – #3 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT #2 OSWEGO STATE LAKERS
Saturday, March 1, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center – Oswego, NY
FOLLOW ALONG…
LIVE STATS
VIDEO (OFFICIAL SUNYAC BROADCAST)
LAST TIME OUT… Last time out, the Bengals held off the six-seeded SUNY Canton Roos on Wednesday night with a 6-4 final at the Ice Arena.
Austin Micale (Hamilton, NJ/Nashville Spartans) paced the Bengals with a pair of goals and an assist with
Vadim Kiriakov (Tyumen, Russia/Altay Ust-Kamenogorsk) adding a goal and two assists.
Tyler Penree (New Hartford, NY/Vermont Lumberjacks),
Tommy Chunchukov (Hendersonville, TN/Yorkton Terriers), and
Sutton Murray (Rochester Hills, MI/Pembroke Lumber Kings) all scored for the Bengals.
Jason Kwestel (Rockaway, NJ/Valley Wildcats) and
Michael Marquez (Upland, CA/Yarmouth Mariners) each tallied a pair of assists while
Marcus Cumberworth (Surrey, BC/Olds Grizzlys) made 26 saves in goal in the win.
THE MATCHUP… The Bengals have reached the SUNYAC Semifinals for the second time in the last three seasons. After defeating the Roos Wednesday night, Buffalo State is one win away from reaching the SUNYAC Championship for the first time in program history.
Oswego clinched a first round bye after claiming the two-seed in the tournament. The Lakers are a constant contender in the SUNYAC winning four conference titles under head coach Ed Gosek and posted a winning percentage north of .700.
Buffalo State swept the regular season series for the first time in program history as they defeated the Lakers in overtime back in November before earning another win in early February.
LAST TIME WE MET… The two sides met back in early February as the Bengals came away with a 4-2 victory.
Joe Glamos (Baldwinsville, NY/New Jersey Titans) and
Don Powell (Wixom, MI/P.A.L Jr. Islanders) each picked up a goal and an assist. Kwestel and
Connor Bizal (Elk River, MN/Boston Jr. Rangers) also scored for the Bengals.
Andrey Manov (West Vancouver, BC/Blind River Beavers) registered a pair of assists while Cumberworth was dominant in net making 40 saves in the win.
THE BENGAL BREAKDOWN… The Bengals enter the postseason with a record of 15-10-0 (9-5-0 SUNYAC) on the year. Buffalo State posted their most wins in a season since the team won 17 games back in the 2017-18 season. Also noteworthy this season, head coach
Steve Murphy became the winningest coach in program history with career win 110 against Chatham University back in January.
As a team, the Bengals sit second in the SUNYAC with 89 goals, fourth with 142 assists, and second with 22 power play goals.
THE MIGHTY VADIM… Kiriakov has paced the Bengals offense all season leading the team with 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists. He also sits third in the SUNYAC in points and assists. Kiriakov also has four power play goals and three game winning goals.
SPREADING THE PUCK AROUND… Nearly every Bengal has tallied at least one assist this season with four reaching double-digits.
ALL-CONFERENCE BENGALS… Three Bengals earned All-SUNYAC honors as Kiriakov was a Second Team All-SUNYAC pick while Powell and Manov each earned a spot on the All-Rookie squad.
IN GOAL FOR THE BENGALS… Cumberworth has been the primary man in goal for the Bengals making 570 saves across 21 starts with a .915 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. Both shutouts came in wins against Potsdam. Cumberworth also sits second in the SUNYAC in saves and save percentage and 13
th in the country in shutouts.
A LOOK AT THE LAKERS… Oswego welcomes the Bengals with a record of 14-8-3 (9-4-1 SUNYAC) on the year. The Lakers won four of their final six games of the regular season to earn first round bye in the conference tournament.
Ryan Burke paced the Lakers with a team-high 35 points and 26 assists while Brandon Cohen had a team and SUNYAC-high 16 goals.
Brandon Milberg has been the primary man in net playing in 22 games while accumulating 438 saves, a .905 save percentage, three shutouts, and 2.24 goals against average.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS…
BUFFALO STATE BENGALS: 16-10-0 (9-5-0 SUNYAC)
OSWEGO STATE LAKERS: 14-8-3 (9-4-1 SUNYAC)
